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McKittrick Hotel

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Coordinates: 40°45′2.27″N 74°0′13.99″W / 40.7506306°N 74.0038861°W / 40.7506306; -74.0038861
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McKittrick Hotel
Map
Address530 West 27th Street
New York City, New York
United States of America
Coordinates40°45′2.27″N 74°0′13.99″W / 40.7506306°N 74.0038861°W / 40.7506306; -74.0038861
Website
https://mckittrickhotel.com/

The McKittrick Hotel (also known as The McKittrick) is a performing arts venue themed as a 1930's hotel in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. It is located at 530 West 27th Street and is best known as the setting of the immersive theater production Sleep No More.[1] It has also featured a bar and dining space known as Gallow Green on the roof,[2] a restaurant called the Heath on the sixth floor,[3] and the Manderley Bar on the second floor.[4] In addition to Sleep No More, it has been used as a venue for a number of parties, performances, and special events.[5]

The venue's name is a reference to the Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo.

Location and theming

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The McKittrick spans roughly 100,000 square feet (9,300 square meters)[6] across three adjoining warehouses. There are six stories and around a hundred rooms.[7] This space was previously used as part of several nightclubs including Twilo and Guesthouse before being converted into the McKittrick in 2011.[8]

The McKittrick was never a real hotel, but Emursive, the producers of Sleep No More and many of the other events at the venue, have created a fictitious history for it. According to its official website, the McKittrick was built in 1939 to be New York's "most decadent" hotel but was shut down two days after the outbreak of World War II (six weeks before the hotel's scheduled opening).[9] While not all areas of the venue reflect a hotel theming, they generally maintain a 1930's noir aesthetic.

Programs and events

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Main article: Sleep No More (2011 play)

The McKittrick is primarily used as the set for Sleep No More, a retelling of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth with additional elements from the Paisley witch trials and the films of Alfred Hitchcock. It spans all six floors of the space and is famous for its distinctive masks that audience members are expected to wear as well as its immersive elements.[10] Sleep No More opened on March 7, 2011 and is expected to close on January 25, 2025.[11] It has won numerous awards, including the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience[12] and special citations for design and choreography for its production company Punchdrunk at the 2011 Obie Awards.[13][14]

Since its opening in 2011, the McKittrick has also hosted a wide range of limited-time events, including:

  • Hypnotique, a burlesque show.[15][16]
  • The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, a production in the Heath of David Greig's musical, in partnership with the National Theater of Scotland.[17][18] It ran from November 2016 to April 23, 2017.
  • SuperCinema, a series of parties inspired by movies such as Clue and The Great Gatsby.[19][20][21]
  • Bartschland Follies (also known as the McKittrick Follies or simply the Follies), a late-night show headed by Susanne Bartsch involving a mix of cabaret and burlesque.[22]
  • Inferno, a Halloween-themed party.[23][24]
  • The Lost Supper - A Hypnotic Dinner Party, a mixture of dining and cabaret performance, featuring actors in animal masks.[25] It ran in a part of the Heath called the Attic in 2018 and closed on September 9 of that year.
  • At the Illusionist's Table, a combination dining and magic performance designed, had a number of runs at the McKittrick.[26][27]
  • APPARITIONS, a three-night series of parties scheduled for January 2025 to bid farewell to the New York production of Sleep No More and the McKittrick.[28]

There have also been various parties for other holidays and events.[29][30][31][32]

Spaces

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The McKittrick consists of three main spaces: the Manderley bar, the Sleep No More set, and the combination of Gallow Green and the Heath, which spans the top floor and the rooftop.

Manderley Bar

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Upon entering the venue and passing the coat check, guests ascend a flight of stairs to the second floor and pass through a dark maze to reach the Manderley Bar. Named after the estate in the novel Rebecca (later adapted into a film by Hitchcock), the bar features two connected rooms - one with the bar and a performance area and another further back with additional seating. During performances of Sleep No More, the area around the stage is roped off for those who have paid for premium entry. The performance area often features live music appropriate for the 1930's theming, including covers of modern songs.

In addition to its use during performances of Sleep No More and other events such as the Follies, the Manderley sometimes functions as a normal bar open to the public.[4][33]

Sleep No More set

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The majority of the McKittrick is taken up by the set of Sleep No More, which spans all six floors. Guests enter on the first floor and after "checking in," are brought up to the Manderley Bar. They are then given access to the performance area via elevator or stairwell. The space consists of:

  • Floor 1 - The McKittrick Hotel Ballroom, with a large dance area and mezzanine above, in addition to smaller rooms including a small crypt, a chapel, and a bedroom belonging to Duncan.
  • Floor 2 - The McKittrick Hotel Lobby, including a check-in desk, phone booths, a luggage area, and a dining area. There is also access from this area to the Manderley Bar.
  • Floor 3 - The McKittrick Hotel Residences, including a number of rooms themed as living areas for the Macbeths and MacDuffs as well as a cemetery.
  • Floor 4 - The High Street of Gallow Green, a fictional small town in Glamis, Scotland. It consists of a speakeasy bar, a number of storefronts, an interrogation room, and a distorted replica of the Manderley Bar. The storefronts include a detective agency belonging to Malcolm, a taxidermist, a tailor, a mortician, an apothecary, and a sweets shop.
  • Floor 5 - The St. James Sanitarium featuring a number of patient beds, a room with bathtubs, a maze-like garden with a small hut, an operating theater, a padded cell, and a nurse's office.

Part of the sixth floor is also a dedicated performance space, but this can only be reached via a specific interaction with one of the cast members.

The set has also been used for other events at the McKittrick, including many of its parties.[34]

Gallow Green and the Heath

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The sixth floor of the building houses the Heath, a restaurant made to resemble a 1930s train car. The small indoor entrance to the sixth floor represents the train stop in a station, with a period advertisement board, train schedule, and newspaper booth. The Heath operated as a full-service restaurant and included a stage area.[35][3]

Gallow Green is a rooftop bar, with theming varying depending on the season. In the summer, it features a garden theme with lots of plants and open air.[2] In the winter, it is sometimes referred to as "The Lodge at Gallow Green" and has included pine trees, yurts, open fires, and spiced wine.[36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brantley, Ben (April 13, 2011). "Shakespeare Slept Here, Albeit Fitfully". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Gallow Green | New York Magazine | The Thousand Best". New York Magazine. 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  3. ^ a b Morabito, Greg (2013-12-13). "The Heath, Sleep No More's Restaurant Counterpart". Eater NY. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  4. ^ a b "The Manderley Bar". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  5. ^ "The McKittrick Hotel – Off-Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  6. ^ "No Sleep Till..." UrbanDaddy. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  7. ^ "Stage Is Set. Ready for Your Part?", The New York Times, March 16, 2011
  8. ^ Solish, Scott (2011-02-02). "Adaptive Re-uses". Eater NY. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  9. ^ "Our Story | Discover the Fascinating History of The McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  10. ^ "'Sleep No More' Awakens After a Long Hibernation (Published 2022)". 2022-02-09. Archived from the original on 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  11. ^ Lang, Brent (31 October 2024). "'Sleep No More' Sets Final Performance After Closure Was Delayed a Year (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  12. ^ Jones, Kenneth (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz". Playbill. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  13. ^ "11". Obie Awards. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  14. ^ "Sleep No More by Punchdrunk | Immersive Live Shows Experience". www.punchdrunk.com. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  15. ^ "Hypnotique | A RED-HOT SULTRY SPECTACLE | McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  16. ^ "Curtains Down, Bottoms Up: When the Show Ends, the Night's Just Getting Started". 2023-11-10. Archived from the original on 2024-04-06. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  17. ^ Chow, Andrew R. (18 October 2016). "National Theater of Scotland to Bring Prudencia Hart to New York". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  18. ^ "The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart | A Theatrical Adventure in NYC". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  19. ^ "The Guilty Party by Supercinema at the McKittrick Hotel - Behind the Scenes NYC (BTSNYC)". 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  20. ^ "Clue 2016 | The McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  21. ^ "Gatsby 2016 | The McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  22. ^ Araujo, Roberto (4 October 2019). "WATCH: A Look Inside at The McKittrick Hotel's Bartschland Follies". Playbill. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  23. ^ "The McKittrick Hotel Heats Up with Halloween-Themed Inferno". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  24. ^ Baratian, Bryan (2018-10-28). ""Inferno" Review - The McKittrick Masquerade". Splash Magazines. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  25. ^ "This Lost Supper won't be lost on you". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  26. ^ Saxena, Jaya (2023-01-17). "For My Next Trick, Dessert". Eater. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  27. ^ Simmons, Paulanne (2023-10-01). "Off-Broadway Review: AT THE ILLUSIONIST'S TABLE (The McKittrick Hotel)". Stage and Cinema. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  28. ^ "The McKittrick to 'Close Its Doors Forever'; Farewell Parties Planned". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  29. ^ Lang, Brent (31 October 2024). "'Sleep No More' Sets Final Performance After Closure Was Delayed a Year (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  30. ^ "The Nightmare Before Christmas | The McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  31. ^ "Halloween 2023 | The McKittrick Hotel". mckittrickhotel.com. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  32. ^ Tapogna, Maximilian (2023-11-06). "Down the rabbit hole at the McKittrick Hotel". Document Journal. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  33. ^ "Manderley Bar". New York City Tourism + Conventions. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  34. ^ Baxter, David (2018-11-15). "Inferno at The McKittrick Hotel Gives Occult Themed Revelries!". Manhattan Digest. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  35. ^ "The Heath (at McKittrick Hotel)". TimeOut. November 25, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  36. ^ Bahamondes, Bianca (2022-01-27). "Gallow Green's Cozy Winter Rooftop, The Hideout, Has Officially Reopened". Secret NYC. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
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